The Westport Board of Education tonight decided to seek restoration of $600,000 of the $1.2 million cut from its 2005-06 operating budget by the Board of Finance. The vote was 6-1 with Mary Parmelee, board chair, voting against.

The Board of Finance at its March 29 meeting reduced the education budget to $78,323,190, about a 5 percent increase over the current year. (See WestportNow March 29, 2005) The Finance Board will hear the restoration request at its meeting Wednesday night.

Before the vote, board member Steven Halstead was highly critical of the way the Board of Finance decided to make its cut.

“Frankly I think the process has been and these (words) may be a little harsh but they are in fact accurate—distasteful, disrespectful and bordering on abusive,” he said.

The Westport Board of Education tonight unanimously approved the appointment of Holly B. Hageman as assistant superintendent for personnel and general administration.

Principal of Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington, Conn., since 2000, Hageman holds a B.S. from the University of Connecticut where she majored in biological sciences.

She also has a M.A. from Wesleyan University, a six-year degree in educational administration from the University of Connecticut, and will be awarded a Ph.D.next month from the University of Connecticut where she focused on school policy development and personnel practices.

Hageman formerly taught in North Haven, Conn., where she was named Teacher of the Year, as well as in Higganum, Conn., where she also was named Teacher of the Year.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said she will take over her Westport position July 1 and will oversee recruitment, hiring and supervision of teachers

The 41st annual town-wide schools’ art show will have its gala opening reception May 6 at Westport Town Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

More than 1,000 works selected by each school’s art teachers will be on display through the end of May. The entries include painting in all media, sculpture, collage, and computer art.

For further information, contact Tom O’Connor at (203) 254-8550 or Susan Lloyd at (203) 226-5245.

Barbara. Lasher, principal of Westport’s Long Lots Elementary School for a dozen years, will retire June 30.

Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon made the announcement at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.

Calling it a “bittersweet announcement,” he said, “I am happy for Barbara Lasher and sad at the same time.”

Landon said Lasher “is definitely one of the finest principals I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. She’s a wonderful instructional leader. She’s compassionate, sensitive, very much concerned with the well-being and the education and welfare of the students in her school and her faculty as well.

For six days beginning Tuesday, Staples High School students will have modified school arrival times and bus schedules to accommodate the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), administered each year to 10th graders state-wide.
Westport school buses: CAPT changes their high school schedule. Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Students taking the CAPT must arrive at school by 8:45 a.m. to take the test, administered each day at 9 a.m. Students not taking the CAPT must arrive at school at times ranging from 10:20 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., depending on the days CAPT schedule (see box).

Those taking the test will be provided with bus transportation at the usual times, although this will set their arrival time 90 minutes before the testing begins.

In a letter to parents, Staples Principal John Dodig suggested that students who are taking the test ғfind alternate methods of transportation to school to avoid having to stay in our cafeteria for an extended period of time before they test.

Westport’s Staples High School will alter its schedule for six days beginning Tuesday to accommodate the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), administered each year to 10th graders state-wide. WestportNow graphic by Emily Laux

Westport’s public schools are on a two-hour delay today because of the weather, the superintendent’s office announced.

Andy Boas (r), president of the Westport-based Charter Oak Challenge Foundation, Monday congratulated five Bridgeport high school students chosen as Charter Oak scholars. Each student will receive a $10,000 scholarship over four years and a laptop computer. Also shown (l-r) are: Dudley Orr, Central High School principal, and seniors (l-r) Vanessa Berrios, Kanha Bou, Victor Santos, Diana De los Santos and Hasan Henry. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo